The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) has announced the UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 for 2,647 posts in aided non-government schools under the Secondary Education Department, Uttar Pradesh, through two advertisements: 08/2026 for 1,475 Principal (Pradhanacharya) posts and 09/2026 for 1,172 Headmaster (Pradhanadhyapak) posts. Candidates need a postgraduate degree with at least 50% marks, a B.Ed. degree (B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. for Headmaster), and four years of teaching or headship experience.
Apply and pay the fee on or before 22 November 2026; the written exam is on 7 January 2027.
UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 Details
| Recruitment | UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026 |
| Posts | Principal (Pradhanacharya) and Headmaster (Pradhanadhyapak) |
| Total Vacancies | 2,647 |
| Minimum Qualification | PG degree (50% marks) + B.Ed. (B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. for Headmaster) + 4 years’ teaching/headship experience |
| Age Limit | 30 years minimum as on 1 July 2026; 62 years maximum |
| Salary | Principal: Level-12, Rs. 78,800 – Rs. 2,09,200; Headmaster: Level-10, Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500 |
| Selection Process | Written examination (360 marks) and interview (40 marks); merit out of 400 marks |
| Written Exam | 120 objective-type questions, 2 hours, OMR-based, on 7 January 2027 |
| Interview | 40 marks, for candidates shortlisted on written-exam marks |
| Job Location | Aided non-government schools in Uttar Pradesh |
| Application Fee | Principal: Rs. 2,000; Headmaster: Rs. 1,500 (same for all categories) |
UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Vacancy 2026
The recruitment offers 2,647 vacancies in boys’ and girls’ schools, and the number may increase or decrease. There is no category-wise split: all 2,647 vacancies are unreserved, so there is no separate SC, ST, OBC or EWS vacancy table.
| Post | Advertisement | Boys’ Schools | Girls’ Schools | Total |
| Principal (Pradhanacharya) | 08/2026 | 1,318 | 157 | 1,475 |
| Headmaster (Pradhanadhyapak) | 09/2026 | 1,037 | 135 | 1,172 |
| Total | — | 2,355 | 292 | 2,647 |
This is separate from the UP TGT Recruitment 2026 (Advt 07/2026, 17,735 posts), which has different eligibility and selection rules.
Who Can Apply for UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026
Candidates must hold the qualification on or before the last date for accepting applications. For Principal: a postgraduate (Master’s) degree with at least 50% marks from a university, deemed university or institution established by law in India or recognised by the Government; a B.Ed. from an NCTE-recognised course; and at least four years as a Lecturer or Assistant Teacher in Classes 9 to 12 of a Central or State Government-recognised institution, or four years as a Headmaster in a High School.
For Headmaster, the same applies except that B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. is accepted and the four years of Headmaster experience must be in a Junior High School.
Both posts require Indian citizenship and physical fitness for the duties; a health certificate from a government hospital or PHC medical officer is needed before final selection. No male candidate is eligible for Principal in a girls’ institution.
Female candidates are eligible for both boys’ and girls’ schools but must choose only one category while applying. A candidate married with more than one living spouse, or married to a person with a living spouse, is ineligible unless exempted by the Governor.
Employed candidates need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer, to be produced at the interview.
Age Limit
Both posts have the same age limit: minimum 30 years as on 1 July 2026, maximum 62 years. Only the date of birth in the High School (or equivalent) certificate is valid.
No age relaxation is given for any category.
UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Salary
Pay is fixed by pay level. The notification gives only the pay level and range; no allowances are mentioned.
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale |
| Principal (Pradhanacharya) | Level-12 | Rs. 78,800 – Rs. 2,09,200 |
| Headmaster (Pradhanadhyapak) | Level-10 | Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500 |
Selection Process
Selection is based on 400 marks: a written examination of 360 marks and an interview of 40 marks. The written exam has 120 objective-type (MCQ) questions to be answered in 2 hours on an OMR sheet: +3 marks per correct answer and −1 per wrong or multiple answer.
The paper is in Hindi and English, except for language subjects. Candidates are shortlisted for the interview on written-exam marks.
Ties are broken by: (1) written-exam marks, (2) interview marks, (3) highest postgraduate percentage, (4) B.Ed. (Principal) or B.Ed./B.P.Ed. (Headmaster) marks, (5) older candidate placed higher.
Centres are fixed as required at district headquarters; admit cards can be downloaded three days before the exam. No TA/DA is paid.
Step 1: Written Examination
OMR-based exam: 120 questions, 360 marks, 2 hours, with −1 per wrong answer.
Step 2: Interview
Shortlisted candidates attend a 40-mark interview, where original documents and the employer’s NOC are verified.
Step 3: Final Merit List
Final merit is prepared out of 400 marks, combining written-exam and interview scores, with the notified tie-breaking order applied where scores are equal.
UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The syllabus has 12 units in three parts — Part I: 30 questions, 90 marks; Part II: 30 questions, 90 marks; Part III: 60 questions, 180 marks.
| Part | Units | Questions | Marks |
| Part I | Units 1–3: Current Affairs; Indian History, Polity, Economy and Geography; General Science and ICT | 30 | 90 |
| Part II | Units 4–5: General Hindi; General English | 30 | 90 |
| Part III | Units 6–12: Development of education in India; UP Intermediate Education Act 1921 and related bodies; Role and responsibilities of Principal/Head Master; Academic, Office and Financial Administration; Education plans and programmes (Mid-Day Meal, Operation Kayakalp, DIKSHA, NIPUN Bharat, NISHTHA, NCC/NSS, scholarships, teacher awards, etc.) | 60 | 180 |
| Total | 12 units | 120 | 360 |
Divyangjan candidates get a scribe facility: bring your own scribe, register the scribe’s details at the Commission office at least one week before the exam, and get 20 minutes extra per hour.
Documents Required
At application, upload a scanned signature on a white background and a passport-size photograph (JPG/JPEG, 10 KB–100 KB each) and all certificates/documents in PDF (20 KB–200 KB each). Fill the form in English only.
Take three printouts after submission; two copies go to the Commission office at the interview, with two separate document sets.
At the interview, carry two separate sets of self-attested photocopies with originals for verification: two self-attested copies of the online application form; High School marksheet and certificate; Intermediate marksheet and certificate; Graduation first, second and third year marksheets and degree; B.Ed. marksheet and degree for Principal, or B.Ed. or B.P.Ed. for Headmaster; Postgraduate first and second year marksheets and degree; original and self-attested copy of the experience certificate; original and self-attested copy of the employer’s NOC; disability certificate if applicable; two copies of the affidavit; character certificate from the last educational institution; character certificates from two respectable persons; and an affidavit about pending court cases or punishment, if applicable.
Application Fee
The fee is the same for all categories, with no concession: Principal (Advt 08/2026) Rs. 2,000; Headmaster (Advt 09/2026) Rs. 1,500. Pay online by credit card, debit card or net banking through the portal’s payment gateway.
Once paid, the fee is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against another application.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Advertisement publication | 23 October 2026 |
| Online registration (OTR) and application start | 23 October 2026 |
| Last date to deposit online application fee | 22 November 2026 |
| Last date for corrections in the online application | 25 November 2026 |
| Written examination | 7 January 2027 |
No separate last date to submit the form is listed — complete registration, application and fee payment on or before 22 November 2026.
How to Apply for UPESSC Principal and Headmaster Recruitment 2026
Only online applications through One Time Registration (OTR) are accepted:
Step 1: Visit upessc.up.gov.in and complete the compulsory One Time Registration (OTR).
Step 2: Read the User Manual (Hindi/English) and watch the website’s tutorial videos first.
Step 3: Fill the form in English, checking all details carefully.
Step 4: Upload the photograph, signature and documents in the prescribed formats and sizes.
Step 5: Pay the fee online through the portal’s payment gateway.
Step 6: Submit the application and keep three printouts of the form with the fee receipt.
After final submission, no change is allowed in category, sub-category, date of birth, gender and other such fields, so check every entry before submitting.
| Apply Online | https://apply.upessc.org |
| Official Notification (Principal, Advt 08/2026) | https://www.upessc.up.gov.in/Notice/e51a-5123-4329-4e57-72f0.pdf |
| Official Notification (Headmaster, Advt 09/2026) | https://www.upessc.up.gov.in/Notice/12ec-b52c-447c-2cb9-f041.pdf |
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Suraj is a career content writer at SrJobHut, covering government jobs, private jobs, internships, and recruitment updates. He focuses on providing clear, useful, and easy-to-understand information to help job seekers explore career opportunities.
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